Paper clip or the like



J y .7, 1936. 'H. .D. RANDALL 2,0 1,129

PAPER CLIP OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1935 f/o rra 'cl ifandal/ Patented July 7, 1936 PAPER NT: OFFICE on HE Lmn nowam n. Randall, Cincinnati, om.

, a Application November 1, 1933, Serial No. 696,237

This invention relates to a novel type of paper clip or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a very inexpensive and effective paper clip or the like, distinguishable from others by reason of its spiral formation and certain advantages resulting from such formation. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of paper clip or the like, so constructed that it cannot tear or otherwise damage sheets of paper held thereby, when the clip is removed from such sheets. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel paper clip orthe like having inner and outer convolutions with difierent gripping strengths or compressive forces, whereby either 'thin or thick stacks of sheets may be efiectively clipped without springing the clip out of shape and detracting from its continued usefulness,

The; foregoing and other advantages areattained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accpmpanyin'g drawing, in which: Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of the novel clip of the invention; t a

Fig. 2 is a side view of the clip of Fig. 1, taken online 2-2 of Fig.1. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a length 6r wire, which may be either round or angular inv cross-section,

and from which the clip is formed.

Fig. 4 is a plan-view showing the wire as it is initially bent into spiraljformation during manuiacture'of the clip.

Fig. 5 is a side view showing how the spiral formation of Fig. 4 is flattened or swaged to produce the ultimate formation of the clip. L

Fig. 61s a'plan view of a modification. 1

The clip illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2' is constituted of a single piece of flattenedre'silient wire of a proper length to form a spiral shape having two or more convolutions l, t and 9. Although any reasonable number" of convolutions orspiral turns of wire may constitute the clip; it is found that from three to slx'thereof provides a clip which satisfactorily holds 3 together the sheets of all ordinary sized stacks or compilations of sheets. I 1- r As is clearly indicated in 2,'.the finished clip is substantially .flat, and has a rounded terminal end In which is easily'form'ed'during the single stamping operation with'which the entire .clip is made. The inner. terminal end of the .material forming the clip is indicated at H, and. Y this end may also be rounded if desired. a In manufacturing the clip of this invention a 55 length of resilientwire or the like It, which may! taining a gritty or frictional-material adapted to convolutions.

. rial being be either'round or angular of cross-section, is bent into spiral formation as shown in Fig. 4, and thereafter it is placed between the pressing die elements M and i5 whichlflatten the spirally wound wire to the extent indicated in Fig. 2. 5 The flattening of the wire, or the heat generated by the swaging ,or flattening operation, have the eifect of increasing the resiliency of the clip material, thereby rendering the clip more effective and satisfactory than the initially formed spiral 10 shape of Fig. 4, In other words, a superior product results from the swaging treatment.

Either before or after the swaging operation, the material of the clip may, if desired, be bonderized or treated with a suitable coating it conprovide a frictional finished surface upon each of the convolutions of the clip. This treatment,

however, is notessential to the proper'functioning of the clip, and Illa? be omitted if desired.

Clips made in accordance with the above teaching are found to 'tenaciously hold a thin stack of sheets whenthe istack is gripped between the inner c'onvolutions, while thicker stacks may more readily be held by the outermost spirals or It is not to be understood that the thinner stacks of sheets must necessarily be inserted between'the inner convolutions, for the clip is sufliciently resilient and forceful to hold the thinner stacks between any of the spiral turns. The clip of Fig, 6, instead of being formed gen.-

erally circular, is made angular in" general contour, and it may be'produced by the same method "material wound substantially spirally to provide a series of convolutions lying substantially in a plane, the flattened faces of the length of mateparallel to the plane of. the convolutionsr 2. As a new article of manufacture, a holding clip for detachably holding together. a stack of correspondence sheets, and consisting of a length of flat faced resilient material wound substantially spirally to provide a series of spaced con- 5 :volutions lying substantially in a plane, the flattened facesof the length of material being parallel' to the ,plane of the conxFolutions,

*3. As'a new article of-manufacture, a holding clip consisting of a] length ,of resilient wire bent I55 5. As a new article of manufacture, a holding clip for detachably securing together a compilation of correspondence sheets, and consisting of a length of flat faced resilient material wound substantially spirally to provide a series of convolutions lying substantially in a plane, the convolutions being sufficiently large and resilient to embrace a relatively thick stack of sheets, the flattened faces of the length of material being normally parallel to the plane of the convolul0 tions.

HOWARD D. RANDALL. 

